Gas-supply system



(No Model.)

' G. WESTINGHOUSE, Jr.

GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM. No. 370,510. Patented Sept. 27, 1887..

INVENTOR,

i I j Atty.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE l/VESTINGHOUSE, JR, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-8U PPLY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,510, datedSeptember 27, 1887.

Application filed December 18, 1886. Serial No. 221,932. (No model) ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, Jr., residing at Pittsburg, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of theUnited States, have invented or discovered a certain new and usefulImprovement in Gas-Supply Systems, of which improvement the following isa specification.

The object of my invention is to enable the supply and distribution ofeither fuel-gas or illuminating-gas in any desired portion or portionsof a city or supply district to be effected without necessarilyinvolving the employment of a duplicatesystem of pipes or mainsthroughout the area to be supplied, the invention being particularlydesigned for application in the conversion in a practical and systematicmanner of a gas-plant for illuminating purposes into a plant suitablefor the supply of fuel-gas.

To this endmy invention, generally stated, consists in thecombination,with a system of gas-supply mains, of a fuel-gas producer, aspecial main leading therefrom and adapted to deliver gas directly intoservice-pipes and into the supply-main system, a series of valvesgoverning the delivery of fuel-gas to different portions of said system,and a series of serv ice-pipes leading out of said system and providedwith pressure-regulators.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

The pressure carried in a system of supplymai us, such as is ordinarilyemployed for the distribution of illuminating-gas, is equal to a columnof water from one and one-half inch to two and one-half inches high, andthe service-pipes leading therefrom are usually about the size requiredfor supplying the requisite amount of illuminating-gas at such pressure;but these service-pipes under the pressure usually carried forilluminating purposes are wholly inadequate in capacity for the supplyof a sufficient amount of gas for heating purposes and the main pipesare likewise insufficient to convey the requisite quantity of fuel-gas.

' In view of the satisfactory results attained in practical service withthe electric light and the constantly-increasing demand therefor, it isdeemed probable by many who have given consideration to the subject thatthe introduction of the electric light will within a reasonable periodbe so far extended as to render in many instances investments inilluminating-gas plants unprofitable, unless the same can be utilizedfor other purposes; and my invention is particularly designed to providefor the supply of heating or fuel gas to such portions of a town ordistrict in which the electric light has been adopted to the substantialexclusion of illuminating-gas without duplication of mains orinterruption of the supply of illuminating-gas in other portions of thesame town or district.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide for the supply offuel-gas and electric light by means of apparatus located in the sameworks, in order that the waste heat evolved in the manufacture offuel-gas may be made available for the generation of steam to actuatethe apparatus for producing electricity for the lights.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of atown, illustratingthe application of my invention.

The supply of illuminating-gas is shown as provided by a gas-generatingapparatus, 1, which delivers the illuminatinggas produced to agas-holder, 2, and thence by proper valves vand meters located in avalve-house, 3, and

adapted to control and measure the gas to a system of supply-mains, 4,laid under the streets in the usual manner and extending throughout theservice district.

111 the practice of. my invention a fuel-gasgenerating apparatus, 5, andgasholder 6, connected therewith, is erected at any convenient point,preferably convenient to the illuminatinggas works when the same arefavorably lo cated with due regard to the economical pro duction of gas,although the particular location of the fuelgas works is not material incarrying out the objects of the invention.

A fuel-gas main, 7, the supply ofgas to which from the holder 6 ismeasured and regulated by meters and valves in a valve-house, 8, is laidin such relation to the system of illuminating-gas-supply mains 4 as tobe adapted, first, to distribute gas for heating purposes along its ownline, and, second, to supply fuel gas to such portions of theilluminating-gassupply mains as may be desired, as hereinafter to bedescribed. The holder 6 and valves in the valve-house 8 are constructedto maintain a pressure of from one to two pounds in the fuel-gas main 7.

In order to admit of the supply of fuel-gas to sections where the supplyof illuminatinggas may be discontinued, the fuel-gas main 7 is connectedat one or more points with the system of illuminating-gas-supply mains4, a stop cook or valve, 9, for turning 011 and off the gas beinginterposed at each connection. The illuminatinggas-supply mains 4 areprovided with stop-valves 10, located in such position that differentsections of the mains 4 may be cut off from the remainder of the systemas desiredgand it should be noted that before using the illuminating-gasmains for fuel-gas purposes the sections of the same-which are 'to'servetherefor must be carefully examined,

their joints made as tight'and secureas practicable, andsuitable safetydevices and escapepipes for carrying off an'y'gas that may escape underthe increased pressure which is necessary for the purpose ofdistributing fuel-gas be provided.

As an illustration of the operation of' the invention, let it be assumedthat it is desired to discontinue the supply of illuminating-gas to thetwo blocks of buildings indicated by 11 and 12 and to supply the samewith fuel-gas. Those portions of the system of illuminatinggas-supplymains *4 which are to be used to establish communication between thefuel-gas main 7 and the service-pipes 13 of the blocks 11 and 12, havingbeen previously tested and fitted with safety appliances for carryingthe higher pressure,'as before specified, the stopvalves 10 between suchportion of the sys-f tem of mains' 4 and the remainder thereof areclosed and the valve 9 is open'ed,permitting the fuel-gas which isconstantly under; pressure in the main 7 to pass into the portions ofthe system of mains 4 requisite for. the supply of the'blocksll and 12and into; the service-pipes13 of the several buildings of said blocks.

standing fluctuations of several ounces per square inch in the main, andwhen provided making the-pipes of very large size, and thus making thecost of a plant too great to permit of the economical distribution offuel-gas in this manner.

When the portions of the system of illuminating-gas mains 4 leading toother blocks, as 14 and 15, have been properly prepared for thedistribution of fuel-gas, additional stopvalves 10 may be closed to shutoff other portions of the system 4 and other stopvalves 9 openedtoestablish communication with the fuel-gas main 7.

I further design to provide the main 7 with branches of considerablesize extending to differentsections of the district, whereby fuelgas maybe supplied thereto without interrupting the supply of illuminating-gasexcept in such places as have been previously determined upon.

I claim herein'as my invention 1. The combination of a fuel-gasproducer, a special supply-main leading therefrom, a second'andindependent system of gas-supply mains, a series of valves governing thedelivery of gas from the producer-main to different-portions of theindependent supplymain system, and a series of service-pipes leading outof said system, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a fuel-gas producer, a special supply-main leadingtherefrom, a second and independent system of gassupply mains, a seriesof valves governing the delivery of gas from the producer-main todifferent portions of the supply-main system, a series of service-pipesleading out of said system, and a series of pressure-regulatorscontrolling said service-pipes and adapted to effects. reduction ofdelivery'pressure therein, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE, JR. Witnesses:

R. H. WuITTLEsEY, O. M. CLARKE.

IIO

